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Elusive Kate keeps the Falmouth after Sky Lantern team fail to win appeal

PICTURE:Martin Lynch (racingpost.com/photos)

Elusive keeps Falmouth as BHA dismisses appeal

By Lewis Porteous 4:39PM 18 JUL 2013

THE Sky Lantern team said they were happy to move on after losing an appeal at the BHA over the Classic winner's defeat to Elusive Kate in a controversial finish to the Falmouth Stakes at last week's July festival in Newmarket.

There was even a sting in the tail for the filly's connections as the BHA's disciplinary panel withheld the £500 deposit they had paid to lodge the appeal.

"There are no hard feelings at all. It was a very good race, they're two very good fillies, and I'm sure they'll both continue to have a very good season."

After Elusive Kate, who was first past the post, had taken Sky Lantern across the course as she hung to her left throughout the final two furlongs of the Falmouth, a lengthy inquiry was held by the raceday stewards.

Despite finding William Buick, rider of Elusive Kate, guilty of careless riding the stewards on the day were satisfied her wayward antics had not affected the result.

Richard Hannon, Sky Lantern's trainer, subsequently launched an appeal but after hearing evidence from connections of both horses on Thursday, the BHA's disciplinary panel members were satisfied that the raceday stewards had made the correct decision and upheld the result.

Despite acknowledging that Sky Lantern had been carried off a straight line by Elusive Kate, the panel members were satisfied that the winner's wayward tendencies had not cost the runner-up the race.

The BHA (@BHAPressOffice) tweeted: "The disciplinary panel are satisfied that Elusive Kate did not improve placing by virtue of interference and the appeal has been dismissed."

The decision means Elusive Kate remains the winner of three Group 1 races for trainer John Gosden and owner Teruya Yoshida.

Following the verdict, Gosden said: "It was a very thorough hearing, extremely detailed and very fair.

"I didn't expect there to be a legal representative on the other side, which meant that we had to get a QC [fellow trainer Graeme McPherson] as well. Once you get a QC in there it all goes to a different level. I wasn't best pleased with some of the questions but that's their job. It's a pity we had to wind up here but these things happen."

Read more on the appeal and proceedings from Lewis Porteous and Tom Kerr in Friday's Racing Post - or download the iPad edition from 8pmon Thursday